Stem Cells - The Hope and the Hype

zer0skill writes to mention a CNN summary of a Time cover story. The Truth about Stem Cells deals with an increasingly politicized area of scientific inquiry, and likens the fight to those over global warming and evolution. From the article: "Five years after Bush announced that federal money could go to researchers only working on embryonic stem cell lines that scientists had already developed, Democrats hope to leverage the issue as evidence that they represent the reality-based community, running against the theocrats. States from Connecticut to California have tried to step in with enough funding to keep the labs going and slow the exodus of U.S. talent to countries like Singapore, Britain and Taiwan."

Comments

Fine

[XanC]

I don't see how or why it's a federal issue to fund science. It's just another way for the feds to bully everybody. Let the states choose to fund or not fund it.

Re:i dont care for bush however...

[Anonymous Coward]

and from what i understand, we have made more progress with adult stem cells than we ever did with embrionic research

Your understanding is flawed. Under Bush's law, Universities and other research institutions that try to use non-federal money to do stem cell research with embryonic cells (other than old lines) lose all Federal funding for any other research. So, tell me again, what University and other research institution is going to accept non-federal money?

You cannot use adult cells to generate the diversity of cells stem cells provide. It is a fallacy propagated by the extremist right. It is difficult not to conclude these people do not care if other people die from diseases stem cell research might cure just so they can pretend to save embryos. Fertility clinics already dispose of millions of embryos every year, so nothing is being saved. In other words, the entire issue is fake.

Re:Religion vs Science

[aersixb9]

On the topic of the fertility clinics that are providing the stem cells, do women actually volunteer for abortions, or do they have to be forced by others?

Re:Education for moderators

[alfs boner]

My ecomment modded "flamebait" for calling the main article old news & possibly troll? My post wasnt flamebait - see wikipedia:

blah blah blah blah blah blah nobody gives a shit about moderation abuse. The handful of times I've had mod points, I've spent them to penalize people who disagree with me. Get the fuck over it. But thanks for the five-paragraph essay, rain man.